โญ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐๐: ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฌ๐ซ๐ขใ๐/๐ใ
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The broken section of the system barrier was massive. Jay estimated it would take at least half an hour to repair, but the monsters wouldn't give it that much time. Within a minute, hundreds of them would swarm the barrier from both trial zones, with their numbers increasing by the second.
Jay couldnโt predict whether the monsters from both zones would clash or join forces, but he wasnโt interested in waiting to find out. He was in no condition to face them.
The moment the system barrier shattered, the duration of his INVERSE mode ended. This plunged him into a weakened state, halving his overall stats in STATUS to 420โbarely equivalent to a monster at Tier-3 Low-Phase. His Spirit Energy and Stamina were nearly depleted, leaving him vulnerable.
Storm Eagle MJ and Dante were still five minutes away. Waiting for them in the open air would make him an easy target for the approaching horde, even hundreds of meters above the water.
Without hesitation, Jay dove into the sea, vanishing beneath the surface before the monsters could detect him. As the cold water enveloped him, he sank deeper, blending into the endless aquatic expanse.
Jayโs thoughts were sharp despite his weakened state. Thanks to the Uncommon-grade skillโAqua Skinโ, he could breathe underwater through his skin, and the crushing pressure of the deep was reduced tenfold. This adaptation allowed him to descend effortlessly into the depths.
At fifty meters below the surface, JayโsโMind Eyeโdetected the approach of several Tier-2 sharks. These creatures, each as large as a school bus, moved stealthily through the water, their predatory instincts guiding them toward their intended target.
In another time, Jay might have dismissed their presence entirely. But now, with only 2% of his Spirit Energy and Stamina remaining, caution dictated his actions. He activatedโAnalyseโto assess the threat they posed.
โฐ Lv.25 Speartooth Shark โฑ
โฐ Lv.24 Sand Tiger Shark โฑ
โฐ Lv.22 Blacktip Reef Shark โฑ
The levels confirmed their danger, but Jayโs Centauri Kavach provided overwhelming protection. Even if he placed his hand between their jaws, their teeth wouldnโt leave a mark. Despite this, he didnโt want the fight to attract unwanted attention.
As the sharks drew nearer, Jay remained motionless, feigning ignorance of their approach. When they were within twenty meters, he acted. From his storage space, he retrieved three sharp spikes, each crafted by MJ , their hollow interiors carrying his potent โBlood Venom,โ designed for situations just like this.
Using Olivia'sโSOUL EYESโ, Jay telekinetically launched the spikes at the sharks. The projectiles embedded halfway into the creatures' hidesโjust enough to deliver their deadly payload.
As the venom spread, the sharksโ movements slowed. By the time they were only a meter away,their massive bodies faltered and went limp, lifeless in the water. Jay watched them fall still, knowing the venom had done its work.
He noted he had seven more of those venom-filled spikes stored away, a contingency he hadnโt expected to use so soon. Choosing to avoid further confrontation, Jay refrained from extracting the Spirit Crystals from their hearts, as the blood spill would almost certainly draw more monsters.
Instead, he usedโLOOTโon their dead bodies and descended further into the depths, seeking cover while he waited out the 25-minute weakened period. As he waited, he began the process of merging with the four new skills looted from the fallen sharks.
โญโโ โ โ โโ โฉ โโ โ โ โโโฎ
โฐ Lv.10 Electroreception โงผUncommonโงฝ Looted โฑ
* Ability to passively sense any electric signal generated by muscle movements of any life form within a 1,000-meter radius, allowing precise tracking and detection of even the subtlest movements in the area.
โฐ Lv.4 Water Pressure Resistance โงผUncommonโงฝ Looted โฑ
* Grants the ability to endure water pressure up to 40 times greater than normal, enhancing survivability in extreme underwater environments.
โฐ Lv.8 Aqua Bullets โงผUncommonโงฝ Looted โฑ
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* Ability to condense water into concentrated droplets and shoot them with force, allowing for accurate and impactful ranged attacks.
Cost: 5 Spirit Energy per aqua bullet.
โฐโโ โ โ โโ โฉ โโ โ โ โโโฏ
Electroreception was a specual ability found in shark species, allowing them to sense the movements of nearby lifeforms. UnlikeโMind Eyeโ, which provided a detailed perception of everything happening within a 500-meter radius,โElectroreceptionโwas more limited in detail but had double the range, extending up to 1000 meters.
For Jay, this extended range was the primary reason he had chosen to integrate it, knowing it could prove invaluable in his current underwater environment.
Meanwhile, theโAqua Bulletsโskill remained an excellent tool for underwater combat, unhindered by the resistance of water. The sharks he encountered earlier hadnโt been able to use similar projectile skills against him, as his surprise attack had left them with no opportunity to retaliate.
The skillโWater Pressure Resistanceโfurther enhanced Jayโs survivability. It passively reduced the crushing pressure of the deep, and when combined with the effects of โAqua Skin,โ his resistance to water pressure increased eightyfold.
This meant Jay could endure up to 320 standard atmospheric pressures โงผatmโงฝ withโWater Pressure Resistanceโalone. Factoring in his substantial Endurance attribute, his maximum tolerance reached an impressive 500 atmโenough to safely dive as deep as 5 kilometers, though prolonged exposure at that depth would eventually harm even him.
At a depth of 2 kilometers, Jay discovered rock beds adorned with coral reefs clinging to the cliffside. Using hisโEarth Innate Talentโ, he carved out a small cave in the rock and sealed the entrance with a makeshift door.
The total darkness at this depth posed no issue for him, thanks toโRetina Adaptionโ, which incorporated the benefits ofโAqua Visionโand allowed him to see clearly in pitch-black conditions.
Inside the cave, Jay took a moment to rest, sealing the entrance to ensure his safety. As he recovered his stamina and spirit energy,โElectroreceptionโremained active, sensing any movement within a 1000-meter radius.
Moments later, the skill picked up two lifeforms moving in his direction. At first, Jay assumed they were random aquatic monsters, but as they entered the 500-meter range ofโMind Eyeโ, their shapes came into focus in his mind.
They were humanoid creatures, standing eight feet tall with pale blue skin. Their flat noses, broad ears, webbed feet, and palms set them apart from humans, yet their faces were eerily similar. They communicated with each other as they moved directly toward Jayโs location. Their purposeful movements left no doubtโthey knew where he was.
Jay quickly deduced that these were Alpha Chosen from the third trial zone adjacent to Earth's. What struck him as unusual was the lack of aggression from nearby monsters.
Typically, monsters reacted violently to the presence of Alpha Chosen, yet these two had passed by undisturbed. Their mysterious approach, combined with the odd behavior of the monsters, stirred his curiosity.
What skill they had used to locate him and their intentions for doing so remained unclear. However, a flicker of curiosity stirred within him, driving his need to uncover the reason behind this strange and unexpected encounter.
When they were just a few meters away, they both halted and exchanged words in an unfamiliar language. Oddly, the sound of their voices carried through the water as clearly as it would in the open air, allowing Jay to hear their conversation with ease.
Despite hearing them clearly, Jay couldnโt understand a single word. The language was unknown to him, and even hisโAnalyseโskill couldnโt decipher their speech directly. However, the skill did confirm their strengthโthey were both at the peak of Tier-2.
There was a significant gap beneath Jayโs own capabilities, so he felt no real concern about them harming him, even in his current state with his Spirit Energy and Stamina not fully recovered. His curiosity about how they had located him and their intentions kept him from taking immediate action.
The two cautiously approached the rock wall that concealed Jayโs small cave. They carried harpoon-like weapons and moved with a mix of hesitation and determination. One of them appeared wary, hesitating just outside the entrance, while the other stepped forward, speaking loudly in a commanding tone.
Jayโs eyes narrowed as he heard the voice. This time, he understood the words perfectlyโit was the Genonian language, a universal tongue that every Alpha Chosen in the Trial World had learned a few days prior.
The speaker declared, "We are the chosen ones of the proud Atlan race. We know that you are from another trial zone and are somehow connected to the changes in the system barrier. Our Sea Lord wishes to meet you. You have two choices now: you may willingly follow us, or you may choose to retaliate. If you resist, we will subjugate you before taking you with us. Be quick and make your choice."
Jay remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. The mention of the system barrier piqued his interest, as did the title of "Sea Lord." It was evident these two were acting under orders, and their confidence suggested they had no doubts about their ability to complete their mission, even if it meant using force.
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